Bombardier DHC-8-401 incident near Boise, Idaho, March 2, 2002
On March 2, 2002 at about 1:40 am local time, a Bombardier DHC-8-401, registered N410QX, was involved in an incident near Boise, Idaho. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 73 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The partial failure of one of the number two hydraulic system elevator hydraulic lines, leading to the loss of fluid and pressure in that system during cruise flight. This loss resulted in reliance upon the sole remaining activation system (number one hydraulic) to operate the rudder.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 2, 2002 · about 1:40 am local time
- Place
- Boise, Idaho
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 73 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bombardier DHC-8-401 · all DHC-8-401s on the register
- Registration
- N410QX · no longer on the register · serial 4053
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During en route cruise, there was a failure of a number two system elevator hydraulic line. This resulted in a loss of hydraulic fluid and loss of pressurization in the number two system. The loss of this system resulted in the rudder being dependent upon the sole remaining activation system (hydraulic system number one) for its operation. After the landing gear was lowered manually, the aircraft landed without further incident, but because the loss of the number two system rendered the nose wheel steering inoperative, the aircraft had to be towed from the runway. The reason for the failure of the hydraulic line could not be positively determined.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 16,000 hours in all; 50 in this make and model
- Last flight review: January 17, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 726 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, January 2, 2002; 349 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 64,500 lb
- Seats: 74
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PW150A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Horizon Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: SEA Seattle WA
- Destination: BOI Boise ID
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 4 | |||
| Passengers | 69 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.